Homeschool using New iPad (3)

Holy Sacred Cows people... please please please forgive me for slacking on this page I have been threatening to talk about photography and video apps FOREVER. Well the first thing, we just raised the ante because we are now a two iPads school. YEAH we have the newest iPad!!! Second thing, I have not posted about the photography and video because I really like to write real reviews surrounding usage. My student and I had not really used the photos/video apps in depth to really describe them. So, I didn't want to post the names and place some bull crap recommendation. I actually like to be excited about what I write here and I couldn't justify posting false words about the apps that I have selected seeing that I hadn't really used them. So, now that we have two devises I can expedite the process and play around so, that I can accurate relay findings. Thirdly, what is the real deal between the iPad2 and the new iPad(3)? Well, here is a photo to show the differences between the two visually...

Basically, the differences are super subtle. The best way to understand the difference is that it is like comparing a 3 megapixel photo versus a 5 megapixel photo. Only a professional would fuss with viewing the variances. Personally, I can see while using that the newest iPad that it is more vivid especially viewing the cyan in this (above) photo. The reds are way deeper on the right and I believe the differences are slightly masked because one devise is black and the other is white.

There are a lot of bells and whistles that I have turned off on my student's devise. And there are things that I have yet to explore. I just found out about Siri. OMGosh, what a trip. I told Siri that I love her (a joke of coarse) and she told me that it was nice of me to have that opinion. Funny, right! Anyway, I just wanted to inform readers that I have not forgotten about this page and that hopefully I will be posting information soon. I had prepared several images and videos months ago and I have to figure out what I was doing because I don't even know. I appreciate everyone's patience. Thank you and understand I am presenting my integrity placing these words here. I have pulled some apps reading other blogs and articles and have been highly disappointed with the information.

Also, parent and or teachers, I have found that having one Apple ID is super useful especially checking my student's usage. The downside is that there are only 5GB per Apple ID so, be careful adding excessive music and images because then one will have to pay for additional storage. Our devises have the minimum 16GB so, be sure to back up using the iCloud but also check what is being stored there using Settings app. I was backing up initially using my laptop before the iCloud when we used the very first iPad and it almost absorbed all my computer's memory. I just had it removed THIS week because there are a lot of reports that it hides and the storage from that first iPad was still lurking and wasting memory.

Finally, here is a youtube video that explains how to modify old iPad covers for automatic shut down when closed:

Bobsled App: Jump On and Glide Freely

 BREAKING NEWS:

Bobsled <<<-this is their link, click it.
 Holy frozen igloos... the coolest app has arisen from the cold world of cellular phone carriers and it is FREE phone calling. Bobsled turns one's mobile devise (in our case the iPad) into a phone that can make out going phone calls. Personally, I have been waiting for this app because it is basically Skype without the video and the fees. I think this app is a must have for any mobile devise user for any age infant to elderly.

This app has two sign in options the first is using facebook and the second is using an email address. My student does have a facebook account but, I don't want him contacting those friends using Bobsled. I am ready to unleash my husky props for this app because it allows my student to call close family members that have cell phones or land lines. If nothing else the app is on our devise in case of an emergency especially as back up for our home school. The apps calling capacity requires a WIFI or internet connection.

Any land line or cellphone number can be typed into the key pad or extracted from the iPad's Contacts app touching the people glyph on the upper right of the keypad. As someone who was once opposed to cellphones but, now uses one daily... I myself am super stunned and shocked to be writing an adoring review for a big mobile corporation like T-Mobile. I do not have T-Mobile service except this free iPad app.

The downside is not necessarily bad things because downsides are rapid momentum. Right now, Bobsled seems to require to be logged in every time to work perfectly. Despite the hypnotic sound of ice being cut by Bobsled's blades, this swooshing slushing sound is long (there are about three rings in the iPad before the person's physical phone actually rings). Any downward incline is slippery slide folks because this app doesn't provide any call back number. Now, users can chat message logging into their facebook account but, that feature already exists in the facebook mobile app. Bobsled is a chill app because there are no cellular contracts or bills as long as one has the Web. I'm not sure about the group messaging or contacting other Bobsled users because we don't know any, as of yet.

Any party dialed receiving Bobsled's anonymous calls can block any app users from calling again which is great to prevent abuse. This is a must have app and I really have no complaints only feedback that can be worked out using updates. The only thing that could be even better is calling globally/internationally freely.  

aside: I'll try to speed up the photography post it is a lot to discuss and edit. I need another brain and set of eyes.

Homeschool iPad Usage

We are a year late getting the iPad 2 especially since, the iPad 3 or newest iPad has been revealed. One thing that I have not found or read anywhere is how to properly manage your iPad storage, usage and battery.


STORAGE: Now if you are an Apple consumer and have iTunes music and video files that you want to store on your iPad then you may need excessive GB gigabytes. We are on a budget and we don't have an extensive video or music collections 16GB serves us very well. Last year, Apple introduced their iCloud storage. First, we back up our iPad using the iCloud. This option is found in the Settings.

 I highly recommend switching the Find My iPad on. If one looses misplaces their iPad this locator can disable and inform the iPad.

USAGE: We use our iPad seven days a week. Almost as soon as my student awakes he grabs it every day. We have over 250 apps. A 16GB devise without many pictures (50) no music and no videos holds about 150 apps comfortably. There are apps I like to have on the devise that don't get real heavy usage. And there are apps that are used non stop. I use the iPad when my student isn't thus, our school could use two iPads, easily. If one uses an app only occasionally and doesn't have in-app purchases don't leave it on the iPad if one takes a ton of pictures. Any app can be removed and re-added. If the app has in-app purchases or certain information stored like productivity usage then one should leave it on the devise.

In the Settings, I have under GENERAL the restrictions code set (unknown to my student) and the iTunes, Ping and Deleting apps are off. There are times when I turn Safari, You Tube off. He isn't using FaceTime, as of yet. Also, if one turns off YouTube or temporarily deletes an app like Facebook understand and be smart that your student or child can still access these things online sources using Safari.  I advise having In-App purchases off. Note however: I have the Installing Apps open to receive updates that way I don't have to connect it frequently to the computer.
Slight ASIDE: (Oh by the way, I highly recommend getting the Apple Care before the first year runs out. It has worked in my favor every time).

BATTERY:  One thing to conserving the devise's battery, (I was shown this by a security guard at SF de Young Museum) if one pushes the main button twice quickly a lower bar or section opens revealing all the apps that have been recently used or opened.

Hold a finger on an app the first one or any one and they will wiggle appearing with a minus bar in the upper left corners.

Touch the minus bar in the upper left corner and remove this app because it is draining the battery even though one may not be using the app currently. My student doesn't use or know this feature so, I use it as a back up to see which apps he is really using because there are times I may not know. Also, this feature works even if the Delete-Apps is switched off (it appears like deleting app but, it all about removing the app using your devise's energy).


PERSPECTIVE: I highly recommend any version of the iPad for any type of home school: academic, religious, artistic, etc. If one doesn't have a reliable digital recording devise than get the iPad2 without hesitations. If one wants the best and the newest get the iPad3.
Technically viewing technology, we are floating in outer space with Richard Branson listening to my iPod Shuffle Ring with Speaker that I made on Earth Day 2012. This moment in time, my twelve year old student is reading one of my favorite books like it was the Bible. The title is Writing-Urban Calligraphy and Beyond.
I hate to say this but, the app that he uses the most is YouTube even though he does not have an account, yet. By the way, he can open an account as soon as he has made a movie/video of any length. Personally, as an artist I recently made a published image for an NY organization that I used a couple of Art apps. This image prints beautifully. I think we had problems with our original iPad and had to get the upgrade to the iPad2 because we make our iPad work hard.

This year, I added a new home school section or category that we labeled Information News. These apps we have previously mentioned or blogged before: PBS, BrainPoP, we had the Smithsonian for iPhone, which we switched out for the actual iPad version and Timbuktu. When we added TED an alternative idea presentation app I believe I lost my focus last year keeping this blog current.

All these new apps are free and my student loves them and uses them without any prompting. His favorite app, which blew my mind is NPR yes, public alternative radio has a very cool app, if one likes thinking differently. There is National Geographic Explorer a free kid's magazine and National Geographic Today that has daily updated video and photos. SnagFilms is the coolest for alternative thinking and documentary in one app. I have seen and learned amazing things watching SnagFilms by myself and with my student. Pulse News is a must have app if there is a student who needs to watch information. The treat out of this listing is Squrl it is an array of video sources including tapping into HuluPlus and NetFlicks. We don't subscribe to either so, that feature is a little short coming however if one needs more video info, this has a bunch of cool sources and the app even taps into the user's facebook account and showcases videos that friends post kinda cool if your student has a good monitored friend list. Also on a more academic note, we added Khan Academy. I highly recommend Khan Academy because it is the most academic video app that still has appeal. The videos areas are labelled: Math, Science, Finance & Economics, Test Prep and Talk and Interviews. Each of these areas has several sub-groups. Basically, this app is filled with  a ton of information including video transcripts. Khan Academy is perfect balance visually supplying information while simultaneously holding high academic learning standards.

(The dachshund is our dog Charley M. The photo of Charley was taken with the basic camera app that comes with the iPad. The screen shots off the iPad are made by pressing the on/off button together with the central or main button. There is a shutter camera sound when the devise makes the screen shot image.  We are going to cover photography and video next). Also, I don't have active links for the apps listed because no app developer pays or sponsors us. If readers would like that feature please leave a comment or email us at 4lovejewelspress@gmail.com.

Apple Home School Coolness

We aren't the richest Apple users however, I am asserting we are the coolest.
This is an iPod Shuffle Ring with Speaker a little something I built to inspire my student. Seriously many have thought about this one but as far as Google would allow me to see, I am the very first person to do it (actually make a wearable piece of metal finger ornamentation that plays music out loud and photograph it). This is four rings in one that fits three middle fingers (worn two fingered) on either hand. As an art jewelry maker this is the largest and loudest piece I have ever made!!!

Okay, we had to show how cool we are because we got upgraded to the iPad #2 (for free). Yes, I said for FREE. Remember the Apple Care that I have been calling upon since we bought the first iPad? Well, the higher ups immediately asked us to return it. We sent it back like this.

And got this including a refund of our remaining balance of Apple Care that was attached to the original iPad.

This happened March 26th, 2012. It has been really intense and until now I had no idea how to blog about it. Clearly, given my iPod Shuffle Ring with Speaker that I made yesterday (April 22, 2012) I am Apple ignited. Now, that we have the camera we have to list a bunch of photography apps AND we have some new super super yes super apps that can be added to any iPad... coming soon.

Here's a sketch that I made with Paper app by FiftyThree. I don't know about their in app purchases this image was made using the app for FREE. If one downloads it because it is free or because Apple recommended it, this app is exactly like what a digital Moleskine notebook would be. After one flips through the app's images blank pages can be added pushing the plus symbol and a tool bar with a few colors appears using an upward swipe of the lower edge of the Paper book's edge. (In app purchases upgrade the toolbar). Very cool for putting together ideas... clearly, I say get it and get inspired.

(I made this image while I waited for the pieces to arrive in the mail. I wasn't sure how the speaker would fit into the iPod or how it would sit on the hand. A great relief and therapy last week to get the idea out and moving before making the actual piece).

Epicurious: What Are Truffles?

OMFrickinGosh, I almost don't even know how or where to begin because I LOVE this app. First, if you cook whether you home school or not get this app because it is free. Thus, one has nothing to loose downloading it. Since we do home school, I decided to explore something that I had no clue about. There is nothing more rewarding than learning with your child. My student had just watched Hood Winked 2 and oddly enough there is a quest for truffles, which had peaked my curiosity. I actually had to look up truffles in our dictionary app to find out that there are different types of edible truffles. The first are mushrooms. The second is chocolate.

So, I put truffles in the app's search and several recipes came up. My student and I discussed a little Math to determine exactly which recipes we would try. We examined each recipes rating and chose the recipes with the highest feedback given the highest number of responses. The first was Cauliflower Soup with Truffle Oil. I was eager to try this recipe because I don't really like cauliflower and never purchase it.
Here's the ingredients
Here's the directions
We chose purple cauliflower just to put a little color in the process.
Saute the onion.
We added our purple cauliflower.
We added organic vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
After simmering for 25 minutes covered we placed the mixture in our blender.
Our soup was still hot after being mixed so, we didn't put it back on the stove. We placed our soup in small cups.
And we topped off the soup sprinkling finely chopped chives, truffle oil, pink Himalayan salt and crushed red pepper.
Let me just tell you THIS was the best soup I have ever made and tasted. The only problem was that me and my student split the entire vat of soup this recipe serves six people.

We used the same process to select our Chocolate Truffles.
Here is the ingredients
Here's the directions
We boiled organic heavy cream.
Then we poured the hot cream over our organic chocolate.
Mixing until it became a liquid (we added a little dash of pink Himalayan salt and a splash of vanilla).
The recipe was a little misleading because it didn't solidify until I placed it in the freezer 3 hours in the fridge was not enough. I put it in the freezer over night.
Finally the mixture was scooped out and rolled into balls which we covered using ground almonds.
And we used cocoa powder as the recipe advices.
These little melting morsels were delicious. They were a pleasant surprise for visitors and our neighboring friends. Everyone gave them five stars despite their less then perfect round forms. Also, we stored them in the freezer just to keep them as firm as possible.

Each recipe includes reviews, which are located in the lower section. This is why we added salt and vanilla, as well as choosing to roll them in ground nuts.

2012 Death Star Update

Yikes please forgive us, we dropped maintaining this blog every month! It is 2012 and nonetheless, we are still using the iPad daily. We bought the extra Apple Care. Good thing we did because we have had to have the cord replaced numerous times. Also honestly, we do have iPad 2 envy. My student wants a camera and it sure would have been nice to have one attached on our iPad. If someone is a cool genius they will make an app to activate a small portable camera to "snap on" the original models. Please feel free to contact us if and when because we would be perfect testers.

WARNING: The real inside information on handing your child an iPad for home school or entertainment: Be certain to use the restrictions settings. We don't have a lock on our iPad. But, I do have the restrictions code active. Recently, I have had to remove youtube.com access and safari. It is super unsafe to just trust your child with any internet devise without checking things like their email. It is super important to discuss safety, identity and blinding signing up for any websites especially if one is not 18. I can't blame some sex site, facebook or even twitter if my under age student has signed up. Just thankful that I do check these things often, have conversations and enforce restrictions. It is good to discuss these things and not be blind sighted by overlooking the reality especially when accessing the internet. Also, parents keep in mind chat capacities like WORDS with Friends a game that randomly picks strangers and allows contact. I don't think it warrants paranoia but discussing proper usage is mandatory.

Our newest FREE apps:
MathSnacksHD This is a very cool app that doesn't require an internet connection. It uses video/animation to describe math concepts without being dry or boring. My student goes to this app on his own accord.
CountingMoney This app is great to keep counting skills sharp and honed.
TED My student loves this app because it is videos. I love it because it presents different ideas and thinking.
coloruncovered This app appeals to the artist in my teacher. It really is very informative and I actually need to explore it more to give it real justice. What I saw my student explore was spot on perfect so, I feel safe blindly recommending this for kids (anyone) who needs to know or think more about color.
Jamie Oliver Recipes We love his Food Revolution Movement. We haven't made anything, yet.
Epicurious This is for anyone who eats really good food and uses the word palette. Everything looks really super yummy. I think we will have to do our next entry showcasing this app so, we can get back into keeping our iPad home school usage hot and fresh!